Drawing mechanism



I A. c. BUTLER DRAWING MECHANISM Filed May 3, 192 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 30 Q June 3, 1%25 l,5$3,984

A. C. BUTLER DRAWING MECHANISM Filed May 23, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 30, 1925.

PATENT OFFICE.

'ARTHURCECIL BUTLER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

DRAWING MECHANISM.

Application filed May 23,

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR CEoInBpTLnR,

a subject of the King of Great Britain, re-

siding at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Drawing Mechanism, of whlch the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mechanism for drawing or drafting cotton, cotton waste, wool, or other fibrous mater1al; and com-. prises a construction by which it is possible to obtain greater drafts and more even and regular attenuation of the sliver or roving than is possible with other drawing mechanism now in use.

For this purpose-the present inventlon provides improved means for imposing a drag on the sliver or roving to prevent the shorter fibers from being caught and drawn along with the longer fibers, causing bunching of the strand.

' Further improvements IGSIdB 1n the mech anism for mounting the drag or retarding means so that it may be adjusted whlle the machine is running to suit varylng lengths of fiber. v

Other features of the lnventlonw ll appear from a more complete descript on of certain embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawings in wh1ch Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevation of the drawing mechanism as constructed for a rin spinning frame.

' Figure 2 is a su stantially horizontal section along the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an inverted perspective of a roving-retarding element.

Figure 4 is a view s1n'i'1lar to Figure 1, but showing a somewhat modified construe tion.

Figure 5 is a detail and perspective of the retarding mechanism for this construction.

Figure 6 is a diagram of certain driving connections.

Referring to Figure 1, 1, 2, and 3 repre-' sent lower drawing or drafting rollers with which cooperate upper rollers 4, 5, and 6. The lower rollers are preferably fluted, so as to engage the roving'to pass itthrough the machine. The upper rollers are preferably covered with leather, or other similar suitable material, and arefpreferably urged downwardly by means 0 weights in the 1922. Serial in. 562,987.

usual manner to press against the roving, and pinch it against the lower rollers.

Between the rollers 1, 2 and 2, 3 are shown smaller rollers 7 and 8, these rollers being journaled in blocks 9 and 10 having dependmg lugs 11 and 12 extending into a suitable slot in the upper face of a roller stand 13. This roller stand furnishes bearings for one end of each of the-series of lower and upper rollers which are also journaled at their other ends in a corresponding stand 13 parallel to and spaced therefrom. These intermediate rollers 7 and 8 are designed to engage the lower face of the roving as it passes between the nips of the rollers 3 and 6 to the nips of the rollers 2 and 5, and from the nips of these rollers to the rollers 2 and 4.

These rollers 7 and 8 are also preferably fluted or coated with a frictional material.

Cooperating with these rollers are means for imparting the draft or drag to the roving. For this purpose a two part plate is employed. A plate 30, shown in vertical position in Figure 3 is seated over the upper portion ofthe roller 7, its lower face being curved to engage over a portion of the roller circumference. As shown in Figures 2' and 3 this plate 30 has enlarged ends 31 which press upon the roving over a considerable arc of a surface of the roller 7, these portions being joined by a narrower intermediate portion 32 having at its central portion spaced lugs 33 between which is pivoted the forward end of a substantially "EV-shaped plate member 34. The cross member of this T-shaped plate extends to substantially the same width as the length of the plate 30 and at its ends is formed with enlarged portions 35 adapted to press on the roving passing over the roller 8. The shank portion of the plate 34 projects between reduced-portions 40 of the rollers 2 and 5. The rear ends of the portions 35 may be turned downwardly as shown at 36, if desired, and through the downwardly turned portions are preferably cut notches or slots 37 which serve as roving guides. Likewise the rear edges of the por-- tions 31 are notched or slotted as shown at 42 to receive and concentrate the roving and their forward edges are slotted as at '43. The slot 43 flares rearwardly and laterally back from the forward edge of the portion 31 as shown at 44, the sides of the slot at the edge of the plate being substantially parallel. This furnishes a somewhat trumpet-shaped opening, the larger end being turned toward the entering roving and the opposite end forming a condensing guide exit therefor.

The series of lower rollers and interme diate rollers 7 and 8 are positively driven. Each lower roller nearer to the delivering end of the mechanism is rotated at a greater rate of speed than those positioned further toward the entering end, by which means the roving is progressively drawn or attenuated by the pull exerted thereon by the rollers. The adjustable rollers 7 and 8 are driven from the lower rollers 2 and 3 by any suitable means which permits the rollers 7 and 8 tobe,adjusted without affecting the drive. Such a means is shown in Figure 6 in which 55 represents a gear carried by one of the lower rollers 2 or 3, 56 represents a smaller gear rotatable with one of the rollers 7 and 8, and 57 represents an idler gear meshing with both gears 55 and 56 and held in cooperative relation therewith by floating links 58 and 59, pivoted on the axes of the various gears so as to drive the intermediate roller with a surface speed only slightly in excess of its driving roller.

The adjustment of the rollers 7 and 8 is effected by means of a screw shaft 60journaled longitudinally of each stand 13, and having threaded engagement with the lugs 11 and 12. Adjustably fixed to each shaft 60 by means of a set screw 61 is a worm wheel 62 with which meshes a worm 63 carried by a transverse shaft 64 journaled in the spaced stands 13. At one end of this shaft 64 is provided a suitable means for turning it such as a hand wheel 65. By turning this hand Wheel it is evident that the blocks 9 and 10 of each stand 13 are adjusted simultaneously back and forth relative to the series of upper and lower rollers, by which means the spacing between the rollers 7 and 8 and the remaining rollersis adjusted, the retarding mechanism moving with these rollers 7 and 8. It is possible also with this mechanism to adjust the blocks 9 and 10 relatively to each other. This may be done by turning the shaft 60 sufliciently to disengage the lug 11, the end plate 60 outwardly of the worm gear 62 being detached to permit the shaft 60 to be moved outwardl was to disconnect the block 9. The s aft may then be turned to position the block 10 as desired and the block 9 may then be brought into engagement with the shaft 60 so that further turning of this shaft may effect adjustment of this block simultaneously with the block 10.

Means is also provided for effecting a traverse of the roving lengthwise of the rollers to prevent grooves being Worn therein. For this purpose a traverse barshown at may be employed, this bar being 0scillated lengthwise by any suitable mechanism in the usual manner. It is not necessary to connect the retarding mechanism to the traverse bar to cause it to traverse since it is moved readily by the action of the roving thereon passing through the guide slots.

In case it is so desired, a double roving may be passed through the mechanism, in Which case the traverse bar 70 is preferably provided with a air of spaced guides 71 and 72 through whic the separate rovings may pass, these rovings being brought together after they pass through the drawing rollers 2 and 5 by the guide slot 42 of the retarding mechanism. From this point on they can be drawn together. Also, if desired, a second traverse bar 73 Ina be employed immediately back of the ro ler 7 and should it be so desired this traverse bar may engage the-portion 34 of the retarding mechanism.

A modified form of mechanlsm is shown in Figures 4 and 5 in which the intermediate rollers 7 and 8 of the retarding mechanism have cooperating therewith u per and lower retardin rollers 77 and 78. he roller 77 is preferably journaled in a frame member 79 engaging over the roller 7. The rear roller 78 is carried in a similar frame 80 and these frames are joined together by connecting arms 81 and 82, the effective length of which may be adjusted by a screw and slot connection 83 therebetween. With this modified form of mechanism it is very desirable that the rollers should traverse with v the roving in order to maintain the pressure on the roving at all times the same and even] y balanced between the rovings should a plurality pass under one roller 77 or 7 8. For this purpose a traverse bar is indicated at 85 having roving guides 86 therein which are shown passed through openings 87 in the frame member 79 b which traversing motions imparted to tie bar 85 are also imparted to the rollers 77 and 78. The rollers 77 and 78 should be of light weight and may be made hollow with the ends bushed or have a small rod through the center toact as an arbor.

While roller retarders may be used, if desired, the preferable form of the invention is as shown in Figures 1 to 3, since this de sign presents more frictional surface to the roving than the line contacts of the rollers and gives better results and also requires less accurate setting to suit slight variations in the fiber staple. Likewise the series of rollers may be positioned in more nearly horizontal position since the roving partially encircles the roller 7 and so may issue from the mechanism in the desired downward inclination While the portion to the rear of the roller 7 may be substantially horizontal.

Having thus described certain embodiments of this invention it should be evident that many changes and modifications may be made therein Without departing from its spirit or scope as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A drawing mechanism comprising a series of rollers over which a roving may pass, and a plate resting on the roving over a pair of non-adjacent rollers and out of contact therewith over an intermediate roller. 2. A drawing mechanism comprising a series of rollers over which a roving may pass, a plate resting on the roving over a pair of non-adjacent rollers, and means for adjusting said non-adjacent rollers as a unit relative to all the remaining rollers.

3. A drawing mechanism comprising a series of rollers over which a roving may pass, a plate resting on the roving over a pair of non-adjacent rollers, and means for adjusting said non-adjacent rollers as a unit relat" e to all the remaining rollers and relative to each other.

4. A drawing mechanism comprising a series of rollers over which a roving may pass, a plate resting on the roving over a pair of non-adjacent rollers, and means for adjusting said non-adjacent rollers relative to all the remaining rollers while the machine is running.

5. In a drawing mechanism, a roving-retarder constructed to rest on a roving as it passes over a series of rollers, said retarder comprising a front plate curved to conform to oneroller and a rear plate movable relative to said front plate and having its for-.

ward end engaging said front plate and its rear end resting on the roving as it passes over another roller.

6. In a drawing mechanism, a roving retrader constructed to rest on a roving as it passes over a series of rollers, said retarder comprising a front plate curved to conform to one roller and a rear plate having its forward end hinged to said front plate and its rear end resting on the roving as it passes over another roller.

7. Ina drawing mechanism, a roving-retarder constructed to rest on a roving as it passes over a series of rollers, said retarder comprising a front plate curved to conform to one roller, and a rear plate movable relative to said front plate and having its forward end engaging said front plate and its rear end resting on the roving as it passes over another roller, said plates having notches therein shaped to form roving guides.

8. In a drawing mechanism, a roving-retarder constructed torest on a roving as it passes over a series of rollers, said retarder comprising a front plate curved to conform to one roller, and a rear plate movable relative to said front plate and having 1ts forward end engaging said front plate 'and its I rear end resting on the roving as it passes over another roller, said plates having notches therein shaped to form roving guides, and means for causing traversing movements of the roving.

9. In a drawing mechanism, a series of rollers over which a roving may pass, rovingretarding means acting on a plurality of non-adjacent rollers only, and means for adjusting said non-adjacent rollers and retarding means relative to the remaining rollers.

10. In a drawing mechanism, a series of rollers over which a roving may pass, rovingretarding means acting on a plurality of non-adjacent rollers only, and means for adjusting said non-adjacent rollers and retarding means relative to the remaining rollers While the machine is running.

11. In a drawing mechanism, spaced roller stands, a series of rollers journaled in said stands, bearing blocks slidably mounted on said stands intermediate different pairs of said rollers, other rollers j ournaled in said blocks, and means for sliding said blocks to adjust said other rollers relative to the rollers of said series.

12. In a drawing mechanism, spaced roller stands, a series of rollers journaled in said stands, bearing blocks slidably mounted on said stands intermediate different pairs of said rollers, a screw-shaft journaled in each stand and having threaded engagement with the blocks of the respective stands, a drive shaft journaled in said stands and having driving connections with said screw shafts, means by which said drive shaft may be rotated to simultaneously adjust said blocks, and other rollers journaled in said blocks.

13. In a drawing mechanism, spaced roller stands,..a series of rollers journaled in said stands, bearing blocks slidably mounted on said stands intermediate different pairs of said rollers, a screw shaft journaled in each stand and having threaded engagement with the blocks of the respective stands, a drive shaft journaled in said stands and having driving connections with said screw shafts, means by which said drive shaft may be rotated to simultaneously adjust said blocks, other rollers journaled in said blocks, and roving-retarding means cooperating with said other rollers.

14. In a drawing mechanism, a pair of non-adjacent rollers over which a roving may pass retarding means resting on the roving over said non-adjacent rollers only and having a roving guide therein, and means for traversing the roving;

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

ARTHUR CECIL BUTLER. 

